Warriors downplay Draymond Green’s verbal spat with Kevin Durant

Updated 8:26 pm, Tuesday, February 7, 2017

In the aftermath of the Warriors’ overtime loss Saturday to Sacramento, Draymond Green was somewhat amused to see video of his verbal spat with Kevin Durant go viral.

“I guess it is funny, people making fools out of themselves,” Green said after practice Tuesday. “We kind of sit and laugh at it.”

Late in the third quarter Saturday, after the two botched a possession late in the shot clock, Green shouted and gestured toward Durant. The All-Stars argued for about 30 seconds, long enough for many to wonder: Was this symptomatic of a bigger issue?

Teammates and coaches have dismissed that notion. If anything, it reinforced that Green and Durant are comfortable enough to hold each other accountable.

“KD and Draymond are best of friends and they’re together every night, laughing and joking,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “So when something happens on the floor, I don’t even bat an eye. It’s just competitive, heat-of-the-moment stuff.”

Added Stephen Curry: “It’s constructive. We try to understand how we’re going to get better. It comes from a place of respect between everybody on this team, including those two guys.”

Photo: Wilfredo Lee, Associated Press

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Golden State Warriors forwards Kevin Durant (35) Draymond Green (23) and guard Shaun Livingston (34) are shown during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Monday, Jan. 23, 2017, in Miami. The Heat defeated the Warriors 105-102. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) less

Golden State Warriors forwards Kevin Durant (35) Draymond Green (23) and guard Shaun Livingston (34) are shown during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Monday, Jan. 23, 2017, in ... more

Photo: Wilfredo Lee, Associated Press

Warriors downplay Draymond Green’s verbal spat with Kevin Durant

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Green called his decision to verbally engage Durant “a tactic.” Per an ESPN report, Green was attempting to light a fire under Durant, who was laboring through perhaps his worst performance of the season. He was uncharacteristically passive as he went 2-of-10 for a season-low 10 points.

Saturday wasn’t the first time Green had unleashed on Durant during a game. Late in regulation of the Warriors’ overtime loss to Memphis on Jan. 6, Green — upset that his team hadn’t executed a Durant-Curry pick-and-roll on the previous play — tore into Durant after a timeout.

“If you can’t (have a dispute), you’re probably on a losing team,” Green said. “But everybody that makes a big deal out of it probably are losers. So that’s how I view it. Anyone who knows anything about winning knows that’s what happens. It just is what it is.”

Rising prices: The Warriors are set to raise ticket prices again next season, a team representative has confirmed to The Chronicle.

The increases, which were first reported by ESPN, will depend on location and will range from approximately 15 percent to 25 percent.

The most affordable seats for season-ticket holders will spike from $32 to $40 per game. Not including the playoffs, the most sought-after courtside seats will rise from $625 to $715.

This is the latest in a series of ticket-price increases since Golden State emerged as one of the NBA’s top teams. During the Warriors’ title-winning 2014-15 season, their lowest season-ticket price seat was $18, per ESPN, while courtside seats were $450.

Injury update: Centers Zaza Pachulia (right rotator cuff strain) and David West (fractured left thumb) won't be available Wednesday against the Bulls. Guard Klay Thompson will be available after missing the past two practices to attend funeral services for his grandfather.